Issue - meetings

The Director of Prevention & Commissioning and Education to present a report which seeks approval to extend the home to school coach contracts with York Pullman Bus Company to 31 July 2024, to ensure continuity in delivery of a statutory service whilst elements of current delivery are reviewed.

Resolved:  That Option 2 be approved and the existing home to school transport contracts with York Pullman Bus Co. Ltd. be extended for a period of 2 years, from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2024, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Prevention & Commissioning and Education, in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Chief Finance Officer, to sign a variation to the contract to extend it for 2 years.

Reason:     To ensure that there is provision in place to meet the Local Authority’s statutory duties in relation to home to school transport until a review of the Tadcaster bus contracts has taken place.  This will require Member consideration and also a public consultation if it is proposed that the Tadcaster bus contract is ended.

The Director of Prevention & Commissioning and the Head of Education Support Services presented a report which sought approval to extend the home to school coach contracts with York Pullman Bus Company to 31 July 2024, to ensure continuity in delivery of a statutory service pending a review of elements of current delivery.

The current contracts for home to school transport were due to expire on 31 July 2022.  Two options were available, as detailed in paragraphs 6-11 of the report and summarised below:

Option 1 –procure new contracts for all required home to school transport work for delivery from 1 September 2022.  This would require further work to include bus contracts within an already tight procurement deadline.

Option 2 –procure a new taxi contract only for 1 September 2022 and extend the current contracts with York Pullman to 31 July 2024, as recommended.  This would ensure the completion of relevant consultation and allow time to review the Tadcaster bus contract.

It was noted that York Pullman had recently been awarded DVSA recognition status, and the cost effectiveness of the current contracts had been demonstrated by an external review.  The Executive Member for Children, Young People & Education welcomed the proposals and urged Members to support Option 2.

Resolved:  That Option 2 be approved and the existing home to school transport contracts with York Pullman Bus Co. Ltd. be extended for a period of 2 years, from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2024, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Prevention & Commissioning and Education, in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Chief Finance Officer, to sign a variation to the contract to extend it for 2 years.

Reason:     To ensure that there is provision in place to meet the Local Authority’s statutory duties in relation to home to school transport until a review of the Tadcaster bus contracts has taken place.  This will require Member consideration and also a public consultation if it is proposed that the Tadcaster bus contract is ended.